Wheel mounting for tractors



July 6, 1943- o. R. scHoENRocK '2,323,682

WHEEL MOUNTING FOR TRACTORS` 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filled Aug. 15, 1940 bum.

ALM

ATTGRNEY.

July 6,1943' o.v R. scHoENRocK 2,323,682

WHEEL MOUNTING FORTRAGTORS Filed Aug. 15', 1940 a sheets-snee; 2

lNVENTOR ATTORNEY.

Patente'cll July 6, 1943 Aras PATENT `Finca 3 Claims.

This invention relates to steerable Wheels for self-propelled vehicles,and more particularly to a steerable wheel assembly especially adaptedfor use in tractors. f

An object of this invention is to provide an improved steerable wheelassembly for a selfpropelled vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a steerable wheelstructure for` tractors which provides for relatively high groundclearance, as well as for a lower center of gravity where the primemover is supported directly above the steerable wheel. y

A further object of the invention is to provide a vehicle axle structureespecially adapted for use with steerable wheels and wherein provisionis made for the transverse adjustment of the steerable wheels so as tovary the spacing between them.

Still another object of this invention is to provide transverselyadjustable steerable wheels in a tractor whereby the space between thewheels may be varied and the wheels may, if it is so desired, be alignedlongitudinally with the other wheels of the tractor. This arrangement isparticularly advantageous where, as for example in plowing, it isdesirable to have the front and rear wheels longitudinally aligned formovement l frame of the vehicle by a support having an opening betweenthe sections and into which a portion of the vehicle prime mover isadapted to extend downwardly below the uppermost plane of the supportingmeans of the axle sections. The opening also permits ready removal ofthe engine oil pan.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of mechanismfor longitudinally adjusting a pair of spaced and aligned steerablewheel axle sections, as well as means for adjust- A ing the tie rodstructure to enable the same to be lengthened and shortened inaccordance with the adjusted spacing between the wheels.

Still other features of the invention relate to the provision of a novelpivotal structure, having an axial section in cooperation therewith, forpivotally connecting a steerable wheel of a vehicle to a sub-frame belowthe main frame of the vehicle.

Other objects and features of this invention showing in dotted lines howthe steerable Wheels may be transversely moved apart to vary theVspacing between them;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view of the y structure shown in Figure 1and illustrating clearly the arrangement of the steerable wheel4supporting means with respect to the bottom v' portion of an engine orprime mover;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 2 andillustrating in dotted lines how the steerable wheels may betransversely adjusted to vary the spacing between them; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line -IV-IV ofFigure 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and showingthe manner in which the drag link and vtie rod mechanism is associatedwith the axle section on which the steerable wheel is carried.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference character lil designates gen` erally the frame of avehicle such as a tractor, on which frame is mounted in the usual waythe prime mover or engine il disposed at one end of the frame which isusually the front end of the tractor.

Positioned below the engine ti are a pair of spaced steerable wheelsi2-i2, which may be of any usual or suitable construction. Each of thesewheels is mounted on a horizontal spindle I3 which is connected at itsinner side to, a kunckle it in which is secured the lower end of avertically extending pintle or king pin l5, shown' in dotted lines inFigure 1. The upper end of the pintle or king pin l5 has mounted andsecured to it a steering knuckle I6 which it will be noted is spacedfrom the knuckle lil by a tubular axle end il comprising part of an axlesection designated generally by the reference numeral i8.

The two axle sections l8|8 'as will become more fully` apparent withthey progress of this description, are adjustably spaced apart so as toenable varying of the distance separating the two steerable wheelsl2-l2, That is to say, by adjusting the positions of the axle sectionsI8|8 it is possible, for example, to move the steerable wheels I2-I 2outwardly and apart to the dotted line positions shown in Figures 1 and3.

In addition to the tubular end I1, each of the axle sections I8-I8includes an upwardly extending web portion IS terminating at its upperend in a horizontally extending channeled member 20. The cross sectionalshape of this channeled member 20 is illustrated in Figures 2 and 4.Positioned in the channel of this member 20 is a fixedly supportedhorizontally extending member 2| mounted on a sub-frame structuredesignated generally by the reference character 22. It will be notedfrom Figures 1 and 3 that each of the members 20 and 2| has a pluralityof spaced bolt apertures which are adapted to be adjustably andselectively brought into register as desired and after this adjustmentare adapted to be secured together by means of bolts 23 (Figure 1). Inother words, by detaching the bolts 23 and sliding the axle section I8together with its associated steerable wheel I2 along rthe member 2I itis possible to vary the distance separating the two steerable wheelsI2-I2, and after the desired adjustment of the wheels has been effected,the member 20 of the axle section I3 can be bolted to the cooperatingmember 2| by means of the bolts or cap screws 23. If desired, the member2| may comprise a single member extending entirely across the structure.

The sub-frame 22 comprises .a rectangular shaped iron frame 24 roundedat the corners and Y having two spaced longitudinally extendingreenforcing angle irons 25-25.

The transversely extending members 2I-2I are suitably anchored to thelongitudinally ex- Y The end portions of the sub-frame member 26 havesecured to them aligned pintle pins 26-26 which are, in turn, pivotallyjournalled in downwardly extending arms 21-21 (Figures 2 and 3l anchoredto members 28-28 extending transversely of and below the vehicle frameI0. These members 23-28 may be in the form of rigid angle irons or maycomprise leaf springs if it is desired to suspend the steerable wheelassembly from the main frame IIJ by means of springs. This arrangementis such that the entire steerable wheel assembly is pivotally connectedto the lower portion of the vehicle frame I0 in such a manner that thesteering wheel assembly may be pivoted as aunit at right angles'to thelongitudinal axis of the vehicle or tractor.

Inasmuch as the steerable wheels I2-I2 are adjustable to and from eachother, itis also necessary to provide in the steering mechanism anadjustment to take care of these variations. I shall now proceed todescribe the steering mechanism whereby the spaced wheels I2-I2 may beturned or manipulated together in their operation.

Each of the knuckles I6 has formed as an integral part thereof a tie rodarm 30 to the. free end of which is pivotally connected one end of a tierod section 3I. The two tie rod sections 3I-3I, as shown in Figures 1and 3. are aligned with each other and havetheir adjoining ends mountedin an adjustment block 32 in which the free ends of the tie rod sections3I-3I are slideably disposed. After the wheels and the tie rod together.

One of the steering knuckles I6', as best shown 1 in Figures 1, 3, and4, also has attached to it a drag link arm 34, to the free end of whichis pivotally connected a conventional drag link 35 which, as is wellknown, is connected to the steering wheel of the vehicle.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that when it is desired to change thespace separating the steerable wheels I2-I2, the adjustment may beeiiected by removing the bolts 23 and by loosening the set screws 33.Thereafter, the axle sections, together with the Wheels, are slidtransversely relative to the spaced members 2I-2l until they have beenadjusted with the desired spacing. Then the bolts 23 are inserted inaligned apertures in the two members 2 I--2I and upon tightening theyclamp these two members After this adjustment, the set screws 33 can betightened so as to tighten the tie rod sections to the block 32 and thussecure them together as a single unit.

Also, in the movement of the vehicle over the ground, the wheels canpivot together transversely 'to the axis of the vehicle by reason of thepivotal support provided at the pintle pins 26-26 and the arms 21-21.

In addition to the foregoing, by reason of the fact that the axlesections I3-I8 slope upwardly away from the king pins I5 to and towardthe members 2I-2I, a very high ground `clearance is provided in thespace separating the wheels.

A still further advantage of the construction described hereinaboveresides in the fact that the sub-frame 22 is hollow at its center asshown in Figure 3, and as a consequence the lower portion of the primemover or engine designated by the reference character 40 in Figure 2 mayextend downwardly into the centraLopening of the sub-frame. In Figure 3,I have illustrated in dotted lines the position of the portion 40 withrespect to the reenforcing members 25-25 of the sub-frame 22. As shownin Figure 2, the portion 40 at the bottom of the engine II extendsdownwardly below the uppermost plane of the sub-frame structure 22.

An advantage of this feature is the fact that a lower center of gravityis enabled than would be the case if the engine was mounted entirelyabove the entire steerable wheel assembly.

Another advantage resides in the fact that the engine oil pan may beremoved through the opening in the sub-frame, ready access to enginebearings, etc., being thus permitted.

I claim:

1. In combination in a self-propelled vehicle such as a, tractor or thelike, having a prime mover and a frame structure, a supporting assemblyfor the prime mover, a pair of spaced and aligned steerable wheels belowsaid prime mover, means for operatively securing said wheels to thevehicle including spaced elements connected with the frame, means forsecuring said supporting assembly to the frame, said supmeans includinga sub-frame extending in the,

the frame in the vicinity ot the prime mover whereby the vehicle isprovided with a relatively low center of gravity and increased groundclearance.

2. In combination in a self-propelled vehicle such as a tractor and thelike, a prime mover therefor, a frame -supporting the prime mover, apair of spaced and aligned ysteerable wheels belowl said prime mover,spaced axle sections supporting said wheels, and means connecting saidsections to said vehicle frame and being constructed and arranged toprovide an opening between said sections into which the lower portion ofsaid prime mover extends downwardly below the uppermost plane of` saidconnecting means so as to provide the vehicle with a relatively lowcenter .of gravity, said connecting support the axle sections and asupport for the prime mover, said transverse means being secured to saidsupport forsliding movement relative thereto. and means for securingsaid subrame to the main frame.

O'I'I'O R. SCHOENROCK.

